Quizalize

https://app.quizalize.com/view/quiz/11032b19-3883923c-b7ad-41df-9bca-6ca7fe8da317

Grade 9

110.32.b.19 

Sabrina wrote the following personal essay in response to a class assignment. Read Sabrina's paper and look for the corrections she needs to make. Then answer the questions that follow.

LOOKING UP
(1) I can still remember the way my shabby tennis shoes looked as I stared down at them, dreading what was about to take place. (2) It was time for the weekly fifth-grade volleyball game, an inevitible scene of mental anguish for me. (3) It wasn't that I ever expected to be chosen first. (4) I knew I was clumsy and would never be the best player on any team. (5) But every week, I stared at my shoes and simply wished that I wouldn't be picked last. (6) And yet I was last almost every time. (7) No team wanted the girl who dropped the ball, tripped over her own feet, and misses the easy serves.

(8) Years later I realized how much those moments of rejection had affected me. (9) It hadn't been easy being the last one picked, the one the other team members "had" to take. (10) I began to expect the worst in every situation, repeatedly telling myself that I just wasn't good enough. (11) I basically grew up staring at my shoes.

(12) All that began to change during the summer after my freshman year in high school. (13) My mom's oldest sister Aunt Karen, needed some help at her real estate office and offered me a part-time job. (14) I had always looked up to Aunt Karen because she was successful and seemed to lead such a fun, exciting life. (15) Her engaging manner and warm, confident smile couldn't have been more different from the nervous, timid way I approached the world. (16) But that summer she taught me to look at things differently.

(17) Aunt Karen said that the secret to success comes from the inside, not the outside. (18) She described her own adolesence, and I was shocked to learn that her experience had been similar to mine. (19) Notably, she hadn't been good at sports, either! (20) Aunt Karen said she finally realized that what other people thought of her didn't matter nearly as much as what she thought of herself. (21) She told me that when she started speaking positively to herself and noticing her own good qualities, she stopped being so self-critical.

(22) So that summer I took her advice to heart. (23) I listened to what I was saying to myself and decided to focus more on the good. (24) For example, when I misfiled an important realty document. (25) I reminded myself of all the other documents I had filed correctly. (26) And when Aunt Karen showed me the messy supply closet, I assured myself that I would be great at organizing it. (27) Before long I had learned a valuable lesson. (28) Positive thinking actually works! (29) The more encouragement I gave myself, the better I felt about myself. (30) By the time school started that fall, I was much more confident. (31) I approached people around me with a totally different attitude. (32) My afterschool volleyball days were over, but when my Chemistry teacher announced that we should each find a lab partner, instead of looking down at my shoes, I looked up and smiled. (33) And do you know what happened? (34) A very nice girl immediately asked me to be her partner!

A teenage hero's courage inspired Wendy to write this paper. This is Wendy's first draft, and she would like you to proofread it before she turns in the final copy. As you read the paper, look for any corrections Wendy should make. Then answer the questions that follow.

MALALA SPEAKS OUT
(1) "We have too much homework! (2) Classes start too early!" (3) Have you heard teenagers express these sentiments or uttered some of it yourself? (4) Students often complain about the daily grind of public school. (5) They seldom consider how fortunate they are to have free, easily accessible educational opportunities. (6) Whenever you feel frustrated by hard classes or irritated by homework, you should think about those who are denied the benefits of formal  schooling. (7) You should remember Malala Yousafzai, a girl who put her life on the line for an education.

(8) Malala was born in Pakistan on July 12, 1997. (9) Raised in a family that highly valued education, she attended a school that her father owned. (10) As Malala was growing up, a group known as the Taliban gained political power in the region where she lived. (11) The Taliban instituted harsh social policies often inforced by terrorist acts. (12) Their radical views included the belief that women should be kept from all aspects of public life. (13) In January 2009 the Taliban proclaimed that no girl could attend school. (14) Malala and other girls defied this decree, continuing to go to class and study for tests. (15) The 11-year-old also began writing a diary. (16) Which detailed what was happening in her region of Pakistan. (17) The British Broadcasting Corporation soon learned about the diary and helped Malala turn it into an online blog.

(18) As Malala's campaign for girls' education gained global recognition, some members of the Taliban began to see the schoolgirl as a menace. (19) When her father lobbied against the militant group despite receiving death threats, his courage inspired Malala. (20) Although she had always wanted to become a doctor, she decided to focus on politics instead. (21) She wanted to help right societies wrongs, especially the denial of a woman's right to an education. (22) By April 2012 she had organized the Malala Education Foundation, a program aimed at sending poor Pakistani girls to school.

(23) As Malala's voice grew louder, the Taliban grew angrier. (24) Because  the group couldn't silence the schoolgirl, who was now 15, its members took drastic and horrible action. (25) On October 9, 2012, terrorists stormed the bus Malala and her friends were riding to school. (26) "Which one of you is Malala?" they demanded. (27) When Malala identified herself to protect the other girls on the bus, one of the gunmen shot her. (28) Fortunately, she recovered, and during her long hospital stay, she continued her campaign.

(29) Malala's story made headlines, and the Taliban's actions shocked the world. (30) The group had hoped to silence Malala but instead amplifyed her message and created a global hero. (31) In 2013 she became the youngest person ever to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. 

(32) On July 12, 2013, which was declared Malala Day by the United Nations, she appeared before the international body, calling for free education for all children. (33) The words of the young girl, spoken on her 16th birthday, will ring loudly among those of history's bravest heroes. (34) "I am the same Malala," she declared. (35) "My ambitions are the same, my hopes are the same, and my dreams are the same." (36) As her fight continues, Malala Yousafzai reminds world leaders "So let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty, and terrorism, and let us pick up our books and pens. (37) They are our most powerful weapons."

Grace wrote the following paper to encourage her peers to begin voting as soon as they turn 18. Read Grace's paper and think about the corrections she needs to make. Then answer the questions that follow.

VOTE!
(1) In 1971 the Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. (2) Young adults, some still in high school, were finally allowed to help select our nation's leaders. (3) Initially, young people were excited to have this right, but today many do not bother to vote. (4) In fact, in the 2012 presidential election, fewer then 40 percent of U.S. citizens between the ages of 18 and 24 voted. (5) Young people should appreciate their right to vote and register as soon as they're eligible.

(6) We are fortunate to live in a democracy in the United States. (7) One of the cornerstone's of a democracy is the right people have to vote for those who represent them in government. (8) However, certain populations, including women, African Americans, and most recently, those under 21, have had to fight for this right in the United States. (9) In some countries there are citizens still fighting for this right. (10) When we exercise our right to vote, we honor those who have worked hard to make sure that we have this opportunity.

(11) Voting also provides young adults with a voice in government. (12) The decisions that local, state, and federal officials make can directly affect young people. (13) Politicians can decide, for example, how much federal aid will be offered for college tuition and how much minimum wage will be. (14) They also decide how much people will pay in taxes and how that money will be spent. (15) Will it be used to build more roads and parks, or should it be spent on medical research and law enforcement? (16) Since many of these issues are important to you and your future, you should participate in the voting process. (17) Those who do not take the time to vote do not have the right to complain about the decisions made by their elected officials. 

(18) In addition to electing leaders. (19) Voters get to say yes or no to questions related to their local communities. (20) For example, residents in Cleveland, Ohio, recently voted to remove traffic enforcement cameras from the city. (21) And the citizens of San Francisco, California, voted in favor of an initiative that limits the height of new buildings in the waterfront area of the city. (22) Should your community raise its sales tax, impose a tax on sugary drinks, or help pay for a sports arena. (23) Each of these questions has appeared on a local ballot, and some have won or been defeated by narrow margins. (24) Your vote at age 18 counts just as
much as the vote of an older citizen. (25) It is important that you take the opportunity to stand up for the things that concern you.

(26) As a sophomore in high school, you are probably a couple years away from turning 18, but you can and should start thinking about voting now. (27) It's your privilage as a U.S. citizen, and it will definitely have an impact on your future.

Gabrielle wrote this paper about a memorable experience she had on a trip with her family. Read Gabrielle's paper and think about the corrections she should make. When you finish reading, answer the questions that follow.

TOURING CENOTES
(1) My parents and I traveled to Mexico to visit my grandparents last summer, and we visited the cenotes (say-NO-tays), the natural swimming holes located on the Yucatán Peninsula. (2) The term "swimming hole" might make you think that cenotes are just average, everyday lakes, but cenotes are truly spectacular. (3) I had the most exhilarating experience of my life exploring these wonders of nature.

(4) Thousands of years old, the cenotes formed when limestone bedrock crumbled, creating sinkholes underneath. (5) The disintigration of limestone exposed secret underground pools of nearly pure water naturally filtered by the earth. (6) Though the ancient Mayans used the cenotes as water sources, people can now swim, snorkel, take photographs, and admire local trees and marine life, all through water as clear as liquid diamond. 

(7) In Cenote Azul, the first cenote we visited, my parents, my grandparents, and I swam through water that seemed too blue to be real. (8) Underneath us, meandering through the same turquoise pool, was schools of tropical fish. (9) I witnessed countless younger kids diving into the water from a small cliff, but I was hesitant to jump at first. (10) I finally worked up the courage, and my initial splash instantly put all my worries to rest, the experience was invigorating.

(11) A few days later, we went to Cenote Ponderosa. (12) We took easy strokes out to the sun-drenched pond, where we lazily floated while others snorkeled and took underwater photographs. (13) Being surrounded by a valley of trees made everything else in the world seem to disappear.

(14) Grutas de Loltún were definitely the most magnificent of all the cenotes, even though there was no swimming involved. (15) Grutas are caves, and the Grutas de Loltún are among the biggest caves on the entire peninsula. (16) Our guide, Carolina, walked us through a labyrinth of caverns, where we saw many drawings on the cave walls. (17) According to Carolina, the drawings were thousands of years old! (18) Just one glimpse of those drawings made me feel like I had stepped back in time to a forgotten era of history. (19) Just as spectacular were the tree roots growing into the caves' ceilings; it was wondrous to spy roots overhead instead of poking out of the ground. (20) The most amazing parts of Grutas de Loltún were the stalagmites and stalactites, which have actually grown together and fashioned themselves into columns. (21) Our group thought Carolina was joking when she claimed she could make them sing for us, but when she tapped them, we heard what sounded like the words "Lol" and "Tun"-the name of the caves! (22) I cannot imagine that a concert at Carnegie hall would have been any better.

(23) Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula is brimming with beauty, but the cenotes are by far the most amazing sites anyone can experience. (24) Cenotes are a one-of-a-kind opportunity to commune with nature in a way that is impossible anywhere else on Earth, and I would not hesitate to do it all again.

Florence has written this essay to encourage others to consider listening to music on vinyl records. Read Florence's essay and look for the corrections she needs to make. When you finish reading, answer the questions that follow.

OPEN YOUR EARS TO VINYL
(1) Decade's ago vinyl records provided music lovers with a way to enjoy recorded music. (2) Considered remnants of our parents' and grandparents' younger years, vinyl records are often thought to be old-fashioned compared to digital music. (3) However, vinyl is making a comeback for many good reasons. (4) Teens should have been giving this earlier form of music recording a chance and experience vinyl records for themselves.

(5) People should experience vinyl for the sound. (6) Although most people think CDs and digital downloads are superior, it turns out that vinyl is the all-star athlete of sound clarity. (7) The vinyl records of the past are not digital; they are analog. (8) For this reason, they capture the original sound of the music, whereas digitally recorded music is more like an estimate of the sounds. (9) Though it is difficult to believe, digital music is unable to truly depict every single sound along the sound wave. (10) The grooves in older vinyl records are responsible for this superiority because they represent the complete waveform of the original music, giving the listener a richer sound and a better listening experience.

(11) In addition, vinyl is not just about the music itself. (12) You might ask, "how can music be about something other than music?" (13) Vinyl is about the entire artistic experience, not just sticking earbuds in your ears. (14) Obviously, vinyl records are much larger than CDs and, unlike downloaded music, are actually something you can hold in your hands and look at. (15) Plastered with large gorgeous artwork, the cover of a vinyl record is something to be appreciated and admired. (16) Some records even come with liner notes filled with information about the artists and the recording sessions, posters, and lyric sheets. (17) All of these artistic additions make CDs and MP3s dull in comparison to their older sibling.

(18) Creating a vinyl record is a lot more difficult than creating a digital recording. (19) Nearly anyone can gain access to a computer or other digital device, which means that nearly anyone can make a recording. (20) However, only a select few can make vinyl records because these artists would need to locate and work with a vinyl presser (a company that can physically make the albums). (21) Also, the price of making and shipping the records can be steep. (22) Such a prolonged and expensive endeaver most likely would be undertaken only by someone who sees the value in this type of recording. (23) Few artists today choose to make this risky
investment, but if you love music, these are the artists you want to listen to.

(24) Vinyl may not be more popular than CDs and digital downloads, but it is definitely experiencing a resurgence. (25) In fact, almost 50% of today's vinyl buyers are ages 18 to 35. (26) So if you think vinyl records are the boring technology of the older generations, think again. (27) Open your ears to vinyl because its excellence will never go out of style.

In response to a class assignment, Alisha has written the following literary essay. Read Alisha’s paper and look for any corrections she should make. When you finish reading, answer the questions that follow.

FROM DISAPPOINTMENT TO PURPOSE
(1) I’m known for my determination. (2) If I want something, I go for it; I refuse to give up until I succeed. (3) Over the years this attitude has worked good for me and helped me achieve my goals. (4) For example, when I wanted to be on the dance team at school, I learned all the dances and practiced until I could barely move. (5) When I wanted to play an instrument, I borrowed my dad’s guitar and sat for hours teaching myself the basic chords. (6) And when I wanted money for a new computer, I washed cars, babysat, and walked dogs for all my neighbors. (7) But this year everything changed, I had set my sights on a summer job that I was determined to get. (8) I could already see myself depositing my weekly checks and building up my savings. (9) Unfortunately, I wasn’t offered the job. (10) But from that disappointment I learned a very valuable lesson.

(11) My friends and I had all planned to work at the Water Zone. (12) We had visited this park every summer for the past several years and had dreamed about working there together once we were old enough. (13) Park employees could go on the water rides after their shift and get free food at the snack bar. (14) It was the perfect job to have on hot summer days. (15) So just as I had attacked every goal in the past, I set out to land a job at the Water Zone. (16) I completed the application in my neatest handwriting, carefully prepared for my interview, and gathered a stack of recomendation letters. (17) I was certain that no obstacle could keep me from my dream job.

(18) Three days after my interview, the manager of the Water Zone calls. (19) He told me that there had been so many applicants that he could hire only those with experience in water safety. (20) I was devastated. (21) Apparently, while I had been busy washing cars, babysitting, and walking dogs, my friends had been earning their lifeguard certification and working at neighborhood pools. (22) I would be the only one of us not working at the Water Zone. (23) I felt like a failure.

(24) With no dream job secured, I let my neighbors know that I would again be available for summer babysitting and other chores. (25) On the last weekend before school ended for the summer, my piano teacher, Mrs. Keller, called me. (26) She wondered whether I would be interested in an opening at her daughter’s summer day camp. (27) I decided that I had nothing to loose, so I called the manager and scheduled an interview. (28) She was impressed by my babysitting experience and references and offered me a job on the spot. (29) In less than a week, I had completely forgotten about wanting to work at the water park. (30) Each time I comforted a little boy who missed his mother or a little girl who needed help tying her shoes, I felt I was doing something significant. (31) I realized that I had discovered my life’s purpose: to work with children. (32) I now have a new goal. (33) I’m going to study to become an elementary school teacher. 

(34) Sometimes in life we don’t get exactly what we want. (35) Our dream guy or girl may not be interested in us. (36) The coach may not select us for the team. (37) A certain employer may not choose to hire us. (38) When something like this happens, it’s natural to feel disappointed; I sure did. (39) But I also learned an important lesson. (40) Occasionaly, when we don’t get what we want, something even better is waiting for us around the corner! 

Measures 1 skill from
Grade 9
ELAR (2009)
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

Our brand new solo games combine with your quiz, on the same screen

Measures 1 skill fromGrade 9ELAR (2009)Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

Our brand new solo games combine with your quiz, on the same screen

Measures 1 skill from
Grade 9
ELAR (2009)
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)